Improvement in automatic check-rein attachments



JOHN SCHOFIEL'U Improvement in Check Rein Attachments.

No. 121,202. Patented Nov-21,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC CHECK-REIN ATTACHMENTS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,202, dated November 21, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J GEN SoHoFrELD, of the city and county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Check-Rein Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved automatic check-rein attachment. Fig. 2 represents a front view of the holding-terret; and Fig. 3 represents a central vertical section of the devices.

. The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in automatic check-rein attachments, as hereinafter described.

In the drawing, the parts marked A indicate the saddle of the harness. B indicates the checkrein; O, the snap-hook for attaching the check rein; D, the elastic cord or spring for drawing up the rein; E, the tripping-cord; and F, the holding-terret. The holding terret F is secured to the saddle A in an upright position by means of its screw-shank and the nut F. In the upper portion of the terret is hinged a locking-plate, Gr, formed of such size and shape as to nearly fill the opening through the terret, and'to swing easily in and out of said opening. Flanges ff are formed at the lower front side of the opening, against which the locking-plate G strikes, and is thereby prevented from swinging toward the front from the opening. A notch or depres sion, to, is formed in the lower edge of the plate G, of sufficient size to embrace loosely the small part of the check-bar I, but is not large enough to permit of the passage of the head I of said bar. The tripping-cord E is secured to the center or other. portion of the plate G, and the plate G can, by its aid, be swung back, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, of the drawing. The check-bar I is formed with a ring or loop, I at its forward end, to receive the snap-hook (J, whereby the check-rein is attached to the bar I, while at the rear end it is provided with a spherical head, I to which is attached the forward end of the elastic cord D. The spherical head is formed hollow, and two openings are formed to the interior, one at the rear and one at the side. The end of the cord D is arranged and secured it in such position,

in the head I by passing its end in at the rear opening and out at the side opening, and after drawing through suflicient of the cord a knot is tied in its end and the cord drawn back until the knot passes into the interior of the head, where it rests against the shell and retains the cord in position, the rear opening being small enough to prevent the passage of the knot. The rear end of the elastic cord or spring D may be attached to the back-strap of the harness by means of any convenient and suitable connecting device, and the tripping-cord E may be passed through a guide-loop near the crupper, and be terminated with a ring-hook or knob, as desired.

The operation of my improved check-rein attachment is as follows: To uncheck the horse, the driver draws back the trippingcord E, which swings the looking-plate G upward and backward, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 8. This releases the check-bar I, and allows its head I to pass through the opening of the terret F, while the expansion of the spring or elastic cord D permits the horse to lower his head. By drawing up on the driving-reins the driver causes the horse to raise his head, and as he does so, the elastic cord D contracts and draws back the bar I and check-rein B; the head I of the bar strikes the plate G and swings it back sufliciently to allow the head to pass, when the plate G swings up to place and embraces the small part of the bar I with its notch or depression a, and thus, by preventing the head I from passing forward of the terret, holds the check-bar I and rein B securely in position until the locking-plate G is again raised. In the present instance, the plate G is caused to swing down into position by its own gravity; but if desired, a spring may be combined with its upper hinged part and the terret F, for forcing it downward and retaining except when drawn back by the tripping-cord E. The terret F and other portions of the device may be made more or less ornamental in design, to suit the taste of the manufacturers, and the metal ished in silver, gold, or nickel plating, or japanned, if desired. The cord D may be secured to the bar I in a difierent manner from that shown; but I prefer the manner illustrated as being neat, cheap, durable, and convenient.

Having described my improvement in automatic check-rein attachments, what I claim thereportions may be finin as new and of my invention, and desire to secheck-rein B, of the terret F, locking-plate G,

cure by Letters Patent, ischeek-bar I 1, spring or elastic cord D, and trip- 1. The holding-tenet F, provided with a lockping-cord E, substantially as and for the puring-plate, G, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

poses set forth. JOHN SCHOFIELD.

2. The hollow-headed check-bar I 1 substan- Witnesses:

tially as and for the purpose described. THOS. H. DODGE,

3. The combination, with the saddle A and CHAS. H. BURLEIGH. (72) 

